Think. Think back to the exact moment when you fell in love for the first time. That split second. That precise moment. Can you remember it? I can remember the day as if it were yesterday: from the light blue dress she wore, to her golden locks curved along her shoulders, down to the shocking tingle when our fingers touched. It was the happiest day of my life, and yet she didn’t even know I existed. What if you had the chance to relive those moments? Would you take it? I’ve waited almost ten years for her and my time has finally come. This split second, this precise moment will change her life forever.

Excerpt

Holding on tight against my chest, I fight through the pain as the heated flames burn. Reaching the stairwell, I jet up the stairs keeping balance as the building continues to tremble. Jumping for the top of the stairs, I land on the platform. The boy cries out as fear exudes from his face. Panic swarms my thoughts but I push them out. We are going to make it.A loud explosion bellows from beneath us and a fiery blast erupts. The blast blows me off balance sending me straight into the wall. The boy slips from my grasp as I fly through the air slamming into the wall. The impact knocks the wind out of me as the dizziness clogs my head. Debris from the sixth floor crumbles onto the stairwell as the bannister starts to break away from its hold. I search for the boy, noticing him on the ground unconscious, still wrapped in my jacket.Coughing profusely I hoist him back in my arms, sealing the mask back on his face. The SCBA beeps again, notifying the three-minute mark. Scanning for the hall window, a sliver of moonlight illuminates the hallway.Hosting us off the ground, one arm holds the boy, while my other grabs hold of the radio. With a raspy voice, “Almost there Cap.”“The ladder is waiting for you guys. Step on it!”With careful steps, I make way to the window. In an instant, the building rumbles around us. Flames from inside the apartment melt the walls and bursts into the hallway. The boy yells out as I tighten my grip around him.Large amounts of debris falls behind us and crashes into the ground, creating gaping holes in the floor. Violent tremors shake the wooden frames as I struggle to keep balance. A shining light blinds through the hall window as it blasts open with Carter peeking inside, “Roman!”The sound of the cracking floor creeps around me and I look down to see it’s completely tearing apart. My heart beat stops as I lay eyes on the child and then Carter. In a split, I rip the mask off the boy and hoist him up, readying to toss him into Carter’s arms.As the ground starts to disappear from underneath me, I use all my strength to hurl the boy, tossing him into Carter’s grasp. A smile curves along my lips as Carter catches him. And with the sight of the boy safe, the floor gives way and crumbles beneath me.The roaring plea of Carter’s voice is the last sound I hear as I fall into oblivion. Copyright 2015: Madison Street

Madison Street was born in New York City and was raised in the Bronx, where she resided until she was 17 years old. After 9/11, Madison joined the United States Navy to serve her country.

During the deployments, Madison constantly wrote short stories and she discovered her passion for writing. You will find Madison always on the computer, whether she's on Facebook, designing websites, messing with Photoshop, or writing for her blog.